From: “Tim & Mary Case” (tim_n_mary_case@sbcglobal.net)
To: obiwan@ghosts.org
Subject: Legend of Mary Stockum
Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 9:42 PM
I just happened to stumble across your site looking for something totally unrelated, but am glad that I did. I’ve enjoyed reading quite a few of the legends and stories posted here, but am disappointed that I don’t see any references to Mary Stockum.
Mary is buried not too far just ouside of West Lafayette, Ohio. In the early 1900’s Mary’s second husband killed her retarded daughter, but apparently Mary didn’t have a problem with this, because when he was hung for the offense, she vowed revenge on the townsfolk.
Soon her nine remaining children started dying, apparently from fever. Rumors started circulating that she was a witch, and after the fifth child died, the townsfolk had had enough and she was tried for witchcraft. She was found guilty and burned at the stake.
The remaining children did not seem to be getting better though, if anything they were just as bad with fever if not worse. After another child had died, the townsfolk decided that another method of stopping Mary’s wrath must be found, so they dug up her body and cut off her head. They then buried it in an undisclosed location so that she could never find it. After this act was performed, no more of her children died.
Legend has it that she still searches for her children and for her head. Local teens and thrill seekers say that when you go out to her grave at night (of course), that car motors will suddenly stop for no reason, and/or that she will come running at the car wanting to know where he head is.
I personally have never had this experience, but have heard many accounts of it.